Most players who signed with Michigan this past February attended last year's 'Barbecue at the Big House.' / Courtesy of Barb Shallman.

Written by

Tim Sullivan

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Of the many things former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez did while in Ann Arbor, most are not remembered fondly. There were, however, some enduring positives.

Exciting wins over Notre Dame and the recruitment of Denard Robinson are among the bright spots in a 3-year stretch of 15-22. One that lasts to this day is the annual “Barbecue at the Big House” recruiting event, which takes place Sunday.

Brady Hoke’s coaching staff has taken the effectiveness to another level. In 2011, several Michigan commitments attended the event, but it was the uncommitted players in attendance that were most notable.

Class of 2012 players Jehu Chesson, Ondre Pipkins, and Chris Wormley – along with 2013 signees Wyatt Shallman and Chris Wormley – were among those who headed to Ann Arbor as uncommitted prospects, but ultimately made the decision to go to Michigan.

The 2012 edition contained a number of future Michigan commits and a few underclassmen prospects still on the table. 2013 signee Derrick Green – the jewel of U-M’s incoming class and the No. 6 player in the country – saw his interest in the Wolverines boosted by attending the event, and he built bonds there that helped him ultimately decide to choose U-M six months later on Jan. 26.

2014 St. Clairsville (Ohio) linebacker commit Michael Ferns didn’t wait nearly as long to pull the trigger after attending last year’s event. Within two weeks, he was a Wolverine.

“I still had to get everything all set up academic-wise, but I think I was ready (at the barbecue)," Ferns said. "My dad and my superintendent and the academic adviser at Michigan have been working for the last week and a half to get my junior schedule set up for early graduation."

Ferns will see some familiar faces when he returns to Ann Arbor for this year’s BBQ. Fellow 2014 commit Mason Cole also attended last year’s event and will be back this year.

Nearly Michigan’s entire current roster of commitments will be in attendance, along with a number of key recruits. The precedent has been set in Ann Arbor that, under Hoke’s staff, is more likely than not to see many of the prospects in attendance eventually choosing U-M.

Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.